Are we not meant to have a dog?

by kristindoula at 09/28/07 2:07PM
So, we got a puppy a few weeks ago that died a week after we brought her home, after a 2 night stay in the hospital. If you want to read that whole story, you can see it on my blog; I don't have it in me to go through it all again now. :-(

Well, a week later we got another puppy (also part of that story)...and now SHE is sick. We just left her at the hospital half an hour ago. She stopped eating well for us, started lying around more, and got really skinny. Up until late this morning, she would still jump up and down for a treat, but when I went to check on her a few hours ago, she didn't even want to come out of her crate. When I opened the door, she did finally come out, but then she just laid right back down on the floor in front of it. Couldn't get her to eat, and she wanted nothing to do with a treat.

Her stool as of yesterday was still very solid. She has vomited a few times ~ including on the way to the vet's ~ but there is just food in it.

They took a stool sample to test for coccidia but didn't have the results by the time we left. They're going to give her an anti-vomiting medicine, IV fluids, and get her eating.

The only thing I can figure (if it's not coccidia) is that she ate something she shouldn't have in our yard. The kids have said a few times that she's been eating mushrooms out there. We've told them not to let her (and honestly, I only knew of one spot where there were mushrooms and she doesn't even play around there), but they keep finding her eating them when she's already started.

She's 10 weeks old and got her first round of shots last Wednesday. (So we can't even test for Parvo because it could give a false positive due to the vaccination...but we don't think it's parvo, anyway.)

Any thoughts?

Are we just not meant to have a dog???
  • prov3110
    Hang in there. One thing that's brought me a lot of comfort in past weeks is a passage in Ecclesiastes. It says, in part, "time and chance happeneth to them all."

    Parvo was my first thought. The vet should be able to test her stool for parvo; that should be able to get around the recent shot. Coccidia is also a definite possibility - especially if there's been a lot of rain lately.

    I've been through both situations in the past with puppies. If you've got any questions - holler.
    by prov3110 at 09/28/07 4:02PM
  • crazymonkee
    show me a picture of the mushrooms
    by crazymonkee at 09/28/07 4:21PM
  • rjlatta
    I just went to your blog and read what happened. I'm sorry I don't have any ideas on what could be going on but my heart is breaking for you & I do hope Syndey pulls through!!
    by rjlatta at 09/29/07 3:12PM
  • the_rainy_dog
    I can understand the heartbrokeness of the loss of a dog. Our neighbors had a dog that spent so much time with us and she became one of our best friends. But she passed due to being exposed to Anti-Freeze. I can understand how close we can get to our canine companions, and I thought I would let you know that. =)
    by the_rainy_dog at 09/29/07 6:14PM
  • the_rainy_dog
    I don't know if you aren't meant to get a dog. If I were in your situation the thought would probably cross my mind as well. But it seems that dogs were created to be a human's companion. Only God knows whether you need one or not. But maybe that's not what this means. In the mean time, I will pray for your new dog. God bless you.
    by the_rainy_dog at 09/29/07 6:17PM
  • jerzgirl
    How is Sydney doing?
    by jerzgirl at 09/30/07 7:09AM
  • kristindoula
    Sydney is much better; thanks for asking! We just picked her up. The vet gave her a bag of fluids on Friday and got her eating well. Hopefully we will be able to keep her healthy now! Her stool was still negative for coccidia or anything else. Definitely not parvo. The only other thing I was able to come up with was that Ken said she had gotten ahold of one of our liquid ant bait things one day. She didn't have it long, but since it's liquid, some of it could have spilled into her mouth. We don't remember what day that was, though, so we're not sure if it could be related to the sickness. That and the mushrooms are the only things I've come up with, though. Now I'm seriously on edge, worrying about what she might eat in the yard.
    by kristindoula at 10/01/07 2:41PM